Air India in talks with Boeing over B787-9 order conversion

Air India is in talks with Boeing concerning the possible conversion of orders for outstanding B787-8s into B787-9s. According to India's Economic Times, the change involves the last six out of twenty-one B787-8s Air India has yet to take delivery of.

"I can confirm to you that we are in discussions with Air India on replacing a part of our order with the 787-9s, which are bigger in terms of seating capacity and can fly longer than 787-8s," Boeing's senior vice president for Asia Pacific and India sales, Dinesh Keskar, said. "All I can tell you is that Air India's twenty-first aircraft will be delivered in June this year and the delivery schedule for the rest six aircraft is not out now."

Air India's Director of Finance, Shri Venkat, has said the -9s would allow the airline to offer non-stop flights from Delhi Int'l to New York JFK.

The Indian national carrier has also held talks with the US manufacturer over the possible conversion of outstanding orders for three B777-300(ER)s into ten B737 MAX aircraft, destined for its Air India Express subsidiary.

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